Scared
 

Okay so this is not about my Yorkie but I know all animals are loved here. My pomeranian has been coughing when he runs around alot. It sounds like a honking goose and scares me to death. I think his trachea is collapsed. He does not have problems all of the time. Only once a day or so, and he gets over it within a minute or so. He eats normal and everything.

I feel like a horrible doggy mom, I'm scared the vet is going to want to take my baby away (put him to sleep). Right now it almost has me in tears thinking about it. He is about 2 years old and a pomeranian, like I said he is the happiest dog most of the time running around and playing, just every once and a while it flairs up. I can't afford alot of expensive treatment. He was my first small dog, and sad to say probably my favorite even though I know you shouldn't have a favorite.

Tibbe has that sometimes but Google it plus read all your responses to come. I think there is medication for it. You are NOT a bad mom as I am pretty sure it is a congenital condition that smaller dogs are born with the propensity to develop. Both my other Yorkies did that too, my Jilly worst of all. My vet didn't even prescribe Rx for her though as hers was intermittent and episodic and would go away for long periods. I think irritation of the pharynx or trachea brings on the honking. Best wishes to you and your baby and get him to the vet and get a work-up. Maybe some throat relaxer/soother is all he will need as I think the need for surgery is pretty rare and doesn't sound like euthanasia would ever be considered for such limited symptoms. Take a deep breath and relax. You are a good momma.

Is it possible he's just reverse sneezing??? Maybe there's something causing him to have allergies. I'll let the experts answer this, but it might not be as bad as you're thinking.

I hope its just reverse sneezing. No matter what you need to have it checked and if it is collapsed trachea only you can make the decision to pts not the vet. I have heard of dogs living with collapsed trachea so just get it checked because I dont want to scare you further but heart problems can cause coughing also

Aw I'm so sorry you're going through this! Please take him to the vet though, whatever it is might be helped soon if he goes. They wouldn't put down a 2 year old who is eating normal and everything....perhaps they'll understand and allow you to make payments if the cost ends up being high. Hope you find out what the problem is!

This.

If you aren't positive that it is reverse sneezing, then it is time to see the vet. If it is anything serious, the sooner you start treatment, the better.

Thank you for your kind words. Tocho's is the same intermittent and episodic as well. He won't do it for a month and then he will do it once a day or so for a week or so. He does it alot when we are at my moms house but she has alot of cats and I think he is allergic or something because once I take him outside it stops. He goes to the vet tomorrow because my Yorkie has Kennell cough, and I want to get them both on antibiodics and get it cleared up as they seem to be passing it back and forth and only the Yorkie has been on antibiodics. It is time for his physical any way. I'm just nervous. The vet told me that the Kennel cough vaccine was not necessary if we did not go to dog parks or I did not board them.

When I pull the YouTube videos up it looks like reverse sneeze. I'm still going to ask the vet about it. It scares me really bad when he does it. But he is fine immediatley after and goes right back to playing. Thank you everyone.

Oh, one big thing a Yorkie owner told me about reverse sneezing. Remain very matter of fact and calm as your baby is doing it - do not freak out or sooth him or anything as dogs get scared when you are scared - and I was told that some of them begin to learn to use that honking/reverse sneezing behavior as a tool to get quick, intense attention. The first time Tibbe did it, it scared him to death and his gums even went pale. I went pale too and had keys and directions out for the night vet but I steeled myself to remain extremely calm as I was doing all this. I'd spoken to the vet first thing and he said that he was probably just shocky from fear of this episode and to bring him in only if it got severe or continued over a prolonged period. Still, I got ready to go due to the pale gums but when his gums were pinking up, I distracted him with a squeaky toy and after a bit he was restored and playing with it. I stayed up all night checking his gums, his respirations, his temp and his pupils and finally, about 8 am I caught a nap. But I tried to be a professional and nurse-like as possible and not approach him until I was feeling more calm. I asked his vet later if I should continue to ignore the reverse sneezing and he agreed, stating that it can become a learned behavior. Still, it can rock your world and it is just about impossible not to run to him and grab his honking little body up and make over him. It's been a long time now since he's done it as I rarely give him many rough chew bones, etc., now, thinking he did that most after chewing and swallowing chewy type things. I think he's just got a very small trach and it scratches easily so we stay away from many possible irritants like that - not that I don't cave occasionally but if I do, he doesn't get any more for a good while just in case. So, get him to the vet and get him checked but try not to worry too much. I think it's pretty common with small breeds with small tracheas.

Something you might want to do is to try and video tape the episodes. Never fails, the dog won't do it while you are there at the vet's being examined. The video will show the doc exactly what is happening.

Yes, its really funny when he was first learning to ride in the backseat he used to start doing it because he knew I would pull the car over and get back there with him to try to comfort him. I do always drop what I'm doing and go to him.

That is a very good idea. He goes to the vet tomorrow so I'm sure he probably wont have one tonight but I will try to catch the next one.

So I just wanted to report that everything went well at the vet on Friday. They said yes he does have kennel cough and put him on antibiodics and told me that it was just a reverse sneeze not to worry, but to give him 1/4 of a childrens benadryl once per day.

Thank you all for your support it means so much to me. Sorry I freaked out.

Thank goodness it wasn't something worse. Boy, they can scare you to death, can't they? I don't they we can help freaking out when our dogs are not feeling right. Normal behavior. Get well soon, little pom.